Raj Shankar's Blog, page 68
October 14, 2012
100% of the time is easier than 98% of the time
On a recent weekend I happened to spend some time watching an oratorical reality program on television. As a person who is not too inclined to watch these often, I got attracted in this occasion by the powerful and captivating talk delivered in regional language by a young boy (almost a child) of about 10 years .The boy was presenting a strong case on climate change and the urgent need for environmentally sustainable practices. Of the many points that was shared I found a particular one to be of great value.
As it was a weekend and I was inside my home, I did not have with me at that time my idea-capturing notepad. This is a small note book that travels with me through the day, into which I write any thoughts, ideas or impression that I may encounter at any point in time. WIthout the notepad and swept by the weekend mood, I told myself as soon as I get to my notepad I shall write this idea down. And then I continued to watch the program. However through the day I missed making a note of the idea, as I got caught with the weekend schedule of activities. And for the whole of last week every attempt by me to retrieve the thought from the labyrinth of my memory is proving to be frustratingly futile. What is hurting me more than losing the thought is the fact that it happened because of me not following a simple self-made rule to carry the notepad everywhere every time.
This infact brought about another thought rather a valuable lesson. Effectiveness of any discipline resides only in its sustained practice. A learning that is best captured by Christensen in his latest book ‘How do you measure your life’ as ‘ It is easier to be 100% than 98%’. The minute you start making exceptions to your rule, you dilute its intended purpose and thereby its effectiveness!
October 13, 2012
Interesting Links This Week: 14-Oct-2012
Some links that I found of interest this week.
* How to accelerate innovation inside your company. Four tips from large companies that act like startups http://bit.ly/Reoi6a
* As we allow internet search engines to help us more by getting to know us better – are we losing on our privacy even without our knowledge? http://bit.ly/Q7v2kh
* 5% of India’s population accounting for 16% of industrial production – Ashok Malik writes on this and more in his column http://bit.ly/QUHp37
* Came upon this set of maxims from Andy Boynton which I found of interest and inspiring further thinking http://bit.ly/xUwDis
Books and Me: What to do when there’s too much to do
Book Title: What to do when there’s too much to do 
Author: Laura Stack
It’s been sometime since I read a book on time management or productivity. With more opportunities presenting themselves in front of me and challenging me, I decided it is time to have a quick reiteration of the fundamentals of personal effectiveness. If you are a person who feels busy and hard pressed for time then you will find this book interesting. The subtitle of the book suggests that by following the prescribed system you can save upto 90 minutes a day; without compromising your sanity. As a writer teacher and consultant 90 minutes a day is a lot of extra time to feel more productive. But that is not only what I took away from the book.
To be honest, I have my own system for personal productivity. So when I looked up the book my intention was not to find a system but to validate my personal approach, improve it and rejuvenate myself to stay productive. This does not undermine the Productivity Workflow Formula (PWF) system developed by the author in the book. If you do not have a personal system already – this could be a good starting point.Personally I took away strongly the subtler hints of the author with respect to identifying what really matters, avoiding multi-tasking, shutting out distractions, approach to managing new age information channels and reducing inefficiencies.
An interesting chapter titled Manage Your Capacity provided much needed inputs on an often ignored aspect of productivity enhancement namely personal well being. The importance of taking breaks, getting adequate sleep, watching your diet, importantly exercising your body – all of these when managed creates in us the much needed energy to be able to do all planned aspects of personal and professional life in an effective manner.
The book is a useful reminder on leading a balanced life as against attempting to balance aspects of life!
October 12, 2012
Newspaper to an Entrepreneur’s Rescue
Entrepreneurs are known for their innovative outlook and different perspective to life. This got reiterated once again this week through a chance meeting with an entrepreneur. As the norm of the day, the conversation took the turn to discuss the current market happenings and also the challenges that an entrepreneur encounters every day. We then moved onto entrepreneurial motivation and what is our personal source of energy. While I shared my best companion in great and worst times are my books; he immediately answered it with his choice – Newspaper.
He said every time in the last two decades whenever he had felt the urge to drop everything and go back to conventional job, he would always open the opportunity column in the newspaper. He would see many of the advertisement with designations lower than his current one of CEO. He would read the job descriptions that may sound challenging but offer very little variety in breadth. He would see salaries that are higher than what he is making currently but way lower than his overall business potential. He said everytime when he realizes these aspects – his mind clears up immediately and he is able to get back to what he loves the most – being an Entrepreneur!
October 10, 2012
Vedantic Wednesday: Beyond Words
Very often etymological understanding of words and terms reveal the larger concept and the true intent behind.It helps to realise, the reason and the intent of the word better. And as a result a deeper understanding of the subject and appreciation of the thought process automatically sets in.
One such term that caught my attention was ‘Annamaya-kosa’, a term used as a synonym for ‘sthula-sarira’ (‘sthula’ – meaning gross, one that can be perceived by sense organs and ‘sarira’ – meaning one that disintegrates). The term ‘Annamaya-kosa’ means literally food sheath. And this term conveys much more than being just another synonym for our human body.
‘Annamaya’ is used because the body is created from the generative liquids provided by the parents, which is a result of the food they have consumed; the body is then sustained by the food that is consumed during one’s life; and on death, the body becomes food for other beings. Since the body is created by, maintained and disintegrates as food, it is referred to as ‘annamaya’.
The word ‘kosa’ means sheath. It is significant because it reflects what the gross body actually does. It provides a sheath for the jiva or the self. Ignorance leads us to get attached to the ‘annamaya-kosa’. And in the preoccupation of this attachment we never look into the ‘jiva’ that is waiting to be discovered. Very much like those infants who attracted more by the colourful packaging, forget all about the actual gift that is inside.
October 8, 2012
The Fleeting Nature of Ideas
That ideas are transient in nature is a well known fact. Numerous successful artistes and productivity experts have suggested solutions so as to capture these ideas for future use. There are even applications on the smart phone that are designed to capture ideas in whatever form they meet us.
But then somehow despite all these utilities, many of us are yet to master the art of trapping and storing our ideas. For few of us ideation takes away much of our energy and in the joy of ideating we lose out on other steps that have to follow.
I write this blog to only reiterate two important and fundamental points:
Ideas are fleeting
They need to be captured as they appear
And remebering the second is more important than the first, so as to ensure the ideas remain available to us in the future! As over-reliance on our memory will always, prove the first point.
October 7, 2012
Interesting Links This Week: 07-Oct-2012
Of the articles I came across this week, these caught my attention. Hope you will find them interesting and useful!
* Very interesting data and insights from study conducted by Vivek Wadhwa and his team on Immigrant Entrepreneurs in US http://bit.ly/VrFgyX
* This should inspire some of the technically tuned entrepreneurial minds to go green. http://bit.ly/SkG6hH
* 10 small but significant things which if stopped can help anyone (especially entrepreneurs) increase their happiness quotient http://bit.ly/PGipeS
October 5, 2012
Books and Me: Lucky or Smart?
Book Title : Luck or Smart?
Author: Bo Peabody
I have probably spoken about this book more than any other in the category of Entrepreneurship across my classes, management development programs, CxO workshops and every other possible opportunity. In a lot of ways it is more of a booklet than a book. It’s succinct and absolutely to the point. It’s filled with contrarian thoughts, which will eventually become non-contrarian when you start living an entrepreneurial life.
Though some of the thoughts presented in the book might seem tough to digest, especially if you are educated through a Business School, a little into entrepreneurial life will make you go back to the book, over and over again. You will refer back to the book more, when you are by yourself.
I do not wish to attempt writing what I took away from the book – as I am still reading and re-reading this book every now and then since the time I bought it in 2009. All this and more for a book that is all but sixty pages, half-A4 size; no bigger than a note-pad!
